Checkerwork construction



Aug-I 24, 1937. G. 1 DANFORTH. IR 2,090,832

I CHECKERWORK CONSTRUCTION Filed March 2, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 24, 193 7.

G. L. DANFORTH,JR

cHEcKERwoRK CONSTRUCTION 5v sheets-sheet 2 Filed March 2, 1956 .SNN

@Tf www ug 24, 1937 G. 1 DANFoRTH. JR 2,090,832

CHECKERWORK CONSTRUCTION Filed March 2, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 2, 1936 @SS SSE mwm@ @Q Allg 24, 1937- G. l.. DANFORTH, JR

- CHECKERWORK CONSTRUCTION- 5 Sheets- Sheet y Filed March 2, 1936 w L L l Lm P. u w 1 M /6`ll Ill Il.. Il N?, w l l 1w C l l@ n ,P n. m n w 10 other portions of the che'ckerwork, whereby comtaken along the plane indicated by the numerl0 Patented Aug. 24, 1937 y e 2,090,832

UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE CHECKERWORK CONSTRUCTION George L. Danforth, Jr., Chicago, Ill., assignor to Open Hearth Combustion Company, Chicago, Ill., a. corporation of Delaware ApplicationrMarch 2, 1936, Serial No. 66,648

' 2 claims. (ci. 28s-19) The present invention relates to improvements tion of the checker construction shown in Figin 'checkerwork construction'. ure 1; c

In the patent to Danforth No. 1,140,125 there Figure 6 is a corresponding fragmentary view is described a checkerwork construction in which taken along the plane indicated by the numerals the checkers are so arranged relative to one an- 6-6 of Figure 5; y y 5 other that the upper portion of the checkerwork Figure 7 is a View on an enlarged scale of anconstruction is provided with vertical channels other portion of the checker construction shown of greater cross sectional area than are the verin Figure 1; tical passageways between the checkers in the Figure 8 is a corresponding fragmentary view munication is provided between adjacent chanals 8-8 ofV Figure 7 nels and the advantage is attained that to a large Figures 9, 10 and 11 show the arrangement of extent the congestion due to deposition of solid the checkers in three of the courses Iillustiated products of combustion is reduced. In the patin Figures 7 and 8; and

5 ent to Peterson No. 1,687,786 there is described a Figure 12 is a view of a checker su'ch as .disl5 checkerwork construction in which the side slip- Closed in the Peterson PatentNo. 1,687,786 above ping of the checkers lis minimized. referred to, and such as may be used, if preferred,

An object of the present invention is to proin the practice of the presentinvention.

vide a checkerwork construction having great Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a portion of a restability, great storage capacity for heat, and generator I0 is illustrated having the side walls 20 large exposed surface for taking the heat into "l the bOttOm l2, the tOp Wall I3 and the and out of storage, which construction is rela- .end Wells N-M. The regenerator l0 has the tively cheap to install and to maintain. Conventional passageways Ma-Ma for the -pas- A further object is to provide a checkerwork Sage 0f all' and gaS- DlSDOSed lengthwise 0f the construction having the advantages above reregenerator I0 are the foundation piers I5 which ferred to and in Very considerable are adapted t0 Support the Checkerwork ses checkers which are Simple in designsaid regenerator I0. Said piers I5-|5 may be A further object is to provide an improved stepped in height iongitudino'iiy as shown in checkerwork construction in which a very large Figure 1 three Steps being iuustraiedgindieated proportion of the checkers may remain in posiby the numerals '5a' '5b and i50- Disposed-m 30 tion for al number of campaigns! thereby reduc arched relationship transversely between adJaing the cost cf purchasing brick and also the cent piers I5 and the side walls II-il are the cost of removal and the relaying of such brick. arches '6 6' Seid arches 6*'6 are bunt up to have fiat tops as shown in Figure 2 to facili- A further object is-to provide a checkerwork construction wen adapted cc meer the needs of tate their checker supporting functions, and the I dimension of each of said arches is preferably commercial operation. c

Furtggr objects will appear as the descrivi@ 22533015? a'seceluiltr ia prooee apart longitudinally of said regenerator. In

Referring to the dre'winesorder to have ample working room between the 40 Figure 1 is o' longitudinal Section tnrougn e piers I5-|5, the arches I6 should be of considcheokei'work construction embodying the prin" erable length. ,Byl reason of the fact that their cipies 0f the present invention; dimensions longitudinally of 'the regenerator are Figure 2 iS a Vertical Section taken along the limited, it will be found necessary to rigidly hold Plane indicated by the orrowe 2 2 of Figure 1? said arches I6 in position. For this purpose a 45 Figure 3 iS 8f diagrammatic View taken along plurality of series of foundation blocks are prothe plane indicated by 'the arrows 3-3 of Figvided, which foundation blocks are indicated by ure 2.lllust18fi5l0n 0f the individual Checkers being the numerals II--I'L Said foundation blocks omitted, showing the DOSltOIls 0f the Wells es I'I-I1 are deeply notched on their lower edges contemplated in the Present invention; whereby to providethe long legs I 1a and the 50 Figure 4 shows in fragmentary sections views shoulders lib-lib. Said long legs lla are taken along the planes indicated by the stepped adapted to lie between the adjacent arches I6 section line indicated by the arrows 4-4 of Figand said shoulders I'lb-l'lb are adapted to rest E ure 2; .upon the tops' of-said arches I6. Said legs Ila Figure 5 is a view on an enlarged scale of a porprovide side bearings for the arches i6 (at the 55 'center portions of said arches) throughout the greater part of the vertical dimension of said arches. The head portions of said foundation blocks I1-I1 are adapted to substantially abut 5 longitudinally of the regenerator as shown in Figure 1 and are arranged in parallel files ex-i tending longitudinally of the regenerator, which files are spaced apart transversely of said regenerator. The foundation blocks disposed at the junctures of the steps I5a, I5b and I5c are of slightly different contour than the other foundation blocks. The leg portion of each of the foundation blocks just referred to is longer than the corresponding leg portion of the other foundation blocks and is provided with a portion I8. The bottom of each shoulder portion I8 is adapted to rest upon an arch I6, and the upper surface of each shoulder portion I8 is adapted to line up with the upper surface of the adjacent foundation blocks I1-I1.

The construction and arrangement of foundation blocks II--I'I produce a plurality of steps of fiat bearing surfaces indicated by the numerals I9, and 2I. vThe spaced apart parallel files of foundation blocks I1-I1 provide longitudinally extending channels 22-22 communicating with the longitudinal passages provided by the foundation piers I5I5.

Carried by the foundation blocks I1-I'I is an assembly of checkers 23-23. The design of the checkers 23--23 forms no part Iof the present invention, but preferably said checkers should be so designed that the liability of slipping thereof in service is minimized. It is at present preferred to use the type of checker disclosed and claimed in the Peterson Patent No. 1,687,786, which checker is illustrated in the figures of the drawings accompanying this specification, particularly in Figure 12 thereof. It wil-l be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the particular checker illustrated.

The top part of the checkerwork of a regenerator receives the greatest amount of punishment from the -hot gases, and a construction is contemplated in which it will be necessary to renew only this portion of the checkerwork after the destructive effect of a furnace campaign. Accordingly, the assembly of the checkerbricks 2.3-23 extends up to a plane indicated in Figure 1 by the numeral 24. This plane 24 is chosen at a level below which the destructive effects of the hot gases are not so great as to require frequent replacement. 'I'he checkerbrick (including the foundation blocks II-I1) below the plane 24 will, in service, amount to about 10 per cent of the total checker construction in the regenerator I0. The removal of checkers above the plane 24 will give ample working space to clean the checkerwork therebelow by the use of compressed air or by lancing or any other method commonly used. There is ample space below the remaining checkerwork, that is-in the space below the arches I 6-I6, to permit the removal of dust which settles in this space While the furnace is in operation and which settles therein due to the cleaning of the checkerwork thereabove.

The present invention contemplates the utilization above the plane 24 of checkers laid on edge of standard dimensions and shape, or of checkers of conventional shape and close to standard dimensions, whereby the cost of said checkers is low. To this end, the checkers in the regenerator above the surface 24 are right parallelopipeds,

or, in other words, they are bricks with no special notches or deformation of any kind, so that they shoulder can be used for second-hand purposes when not good enough for re-use for regenerative purposes.

In carrying out the present invention in the construction of the regenerator above the surface 24, it is proposed to use checkerbricks of two sizes. It is at present preferred to use a supply of standard bricks of dimensions of 9X41/f 21/2 inches and a. lesser number of other bricks of substantially 101/4X41/2X21/2 inches. In other words, the present invention contemplates the use of standard size bricks supplemented by other bricks of standard thickness and width and exceeding the length of standard bricks only by half the thickness of a standard brick.

According to the present invention, wells are provided in the checker construction above the surface 24, and communication is provided between said wells, so that even though some of the vertical passages entering the checkerwork are obstructed by iiue dust or other deposit, communication to the upper portion of the regenerator will be provided through said wells and through unobstructed transverse passageways. The present invention contemplates an improvement over the idea of the Danforth Patent No. 1,140,125. The wells referred to are indicated by the numerals 25-25.

Referring to Figure 1, there is disposed above the surface 24 a layer of checkers 26-26, which form a course indicated by the letter C (Figs. 1, 2, 7, 8 and 11). In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention the checkers in the course C are of standard dimensions, to wit- 9 41/2 21/2 inches. As indicated, the checkers in the course C are disposed in parallel les and provide channels extending transversely of the regenerator I0. Disposed above the course C is the course B (Figs. 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9). The checkers in course B will also be of standard size and are indicated by the numerals 26-26. The checkers in course B are disposed in parallel illes CII extending crosswise with respect to the checkers of course C, with their end faces lying midway of the thickness of the checkers of course C (Fig. 7). It will be understood, of course, that for the purpose of iilling out the space within the walls of the regenerators. some of the longer checkers may be used. These longer checkers are indicated by the numerals 21--21 and accordingto the illustration above given may have dimensions of 101A X41/2X21/2 inches. Alternating with courses B-B at the region of the wells 25-25 are courses A-A (Figs. 1, l2, '7 and 8) made up of the long checkers 21-21 and standard checkers 26-28. The checkers in courses A-A are disposed in parallel files, and between certain of the nies of checkers 28-28 of each course A are illes of checkers 21, which are laid in pairs, end to end, adjacent pairs being spaced apart at the wells 25. As clearly shown in Figure 8, each pair of checkers -21-21 provides full bearing for three crosswise extending checkers 2B-28.

The upper levels of the checkers within the regenerator may be stepped in correspondence with the steps lia, lib and lic of the supporting piers i5, and the wells 25-25 may extend downwardly from the top course of checkers to any preferred extent. According to the present invention, each well 25 is vertically aligned with at least two passageways defined by the checkerbricks 23-23.

At first glance it might appear that the arrangement or checker-brick above the surface 24 as immediately above described would produce a rather unstable assembly. However, the wells 2b, which are useful in providing passageways for gas even though there is a tendency for certain of the passageways to be clogged with dust or other foreign matter, promote a useful cooperation between the standard bricks 26 and the longer bricks 2l. As mentioned above, the preferred dimensions of the bricks 21-271 are l01/4X41/2X21/2 inches, whereas the bricks 26-26 measure 9X41/X21/2 inches. In other words, the longer bricks exceed the length of the standard bricks to an extent equal to one-half of the thickness of the bricks 26 or 2l. As will be clear from an inspection of Figure 8, courses of bricks 2li-2l interposed between courses of bricks 2-26 produce the advantage that' two bricks Z'l-Z'i placed end for end provide an excellent bearing for the bricks '2B-26 superimposed thereupon. As will be clear from Figure 8, two bricks *2-2l placed end for end provide a full 21/2 inch bearing for each of the two bricks at the two ends of such a pair. At the juncture of the two bricks 21-,27 of such an assembly, a full bearing is provided for a brick 26 disposed immediately thereabove. The result is achieved, therefore, that by the provision of the wells 25-25 the elongated bricks cooperate with the standard size bricks to provide excellent bearing surfaces for the bricks in the upper section of the checker assembly.

The uppermost course of checkerbricks may be of the type which interlock with the other bricks 26 or 21 to prevent side slip.

It will be noted that the longitudinal center lines of the arches I6|6 have the same spacing r as the longitudinal center lines of the parallel rows of checkerbrick extending transversely of the regenerator. In other words, the longitudinal center lines of the arches are in vertical alignment with the longitudinal center lines of the transversely extending rows of` checkerbrick. Therefore, the multiplicity of arches and the foundation blocks carried thereby, with their long legs I`la, provide a stable structure having a very large amount of exposed surface for regenerator purposes.

By reason of the construction illustrated and described, the bricks in the upper portion of the checkerwork assembly, illustrated as being about 30 per cent of the bricks in said assembly, are for the most part of standard size and may be purchased at relatively low cost. In order to achieve the results and advantages of the wells 25-25, checkerbricks are utilized differing only slightly from standard brick in length and in cost, and the advantage is achieved that excellent bearing surfaces are provided in the upper portion of the checkerwork assembly, whereby sturdiness is had without recource to highpriced special checker constructions. Inasmuch as the bricks are laid on edge, the horizontal passages have a vertical dimension equal to the width of the brick; that is, considering the example above given, saidhorizontal passages have a vertical dimension of 41/2 inches. The horizontal passages have a horizontal dimension of 61/2 inches.

By reason of the fact that each of the interlocking checkerbricks 23-23 has a portion extending down between the checkerbricks of the course therebelow, the ratio between the crosssectional area of the horizontal transverse passageways and the corresponding cross-sectional area of the material of the checkerbricks 26-26 is less than the corresponding ratio between the cross-sectional area of the horizontal passage- Ways defined by the parallelopiped checkerbricks 26-26-27-21 and the cross-sectional area of said checkerbricks. In other words, in the upper part of the checkerbrick assembly, the

area for the passage of air or gas horizontally of the assembly is greater relative to the material of the checkerbricks than is the corresponding area in the lower portion of the assembly.

Though a certain preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed isl. A checkerbrick assembly including courses of parallel files of checkerbricks, each of said bricks being a right parallelopiped, some of said bricks being'of one size and shape, the others of said bricks exceeding said first mentioned bricks in length an amount equal to one-half the thickness of said first mentioned bricks, the files in alternate courses being disposed crosswise to provide vertical passageways,' said assembly at the upper region thereof being provided with vertical wells each communicating vertically with a plurality of said passageways, certain of said longer bricks being spaced apart longitudinally to provide said Wells. the end faces of certain of said longer bricks and the side faces of certain of said first mentioned bricks defining smooth side walls of said wells, said bricks being disposed with their widths vertical.

2. A checkerbrick assembly including a lower portion composed of notched checkerbricks interlocked with one another to prevent slip, the upper portion of said assembly being right parallelopipeds, some of said parallelopipeds being of one size and shape, the others of said parallelopipeds exceeding 'said first-mentioned parallelopipeds in length an'amount equal to one-half A the thickness of said first-mentioned parallelopipeds, the les in alternate courses being disposed crosswise to provide vertical passageways, said assembly at the upper region thereof being provided with vertical wells each communicating vertically with a plurality of said passageways, certain of said longer parallelopipeds being spaced apart longitudinally to provide said wells, the end faces of certain of said longer parallelopipeds and the side faces of certain of said first mentioned parallelopipeds defining smooth side walls of said wells, said parallelopipeds being disposed with their widths vertical.v

GEQRGE L. DANFORTH, JR. 

